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University of Central Missouri Athletics

2026-2027 Mules Basketball Team Photo

Men's Basketball

No. 19 Mules Basketball Begins 121st Season at Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic

Game 1: No. 19 Central Missouri Mules (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) vs No. 3 Gannon Golden Knights (0-0, 0-0 PSAC)
Saturday, Nov. 7 | 10:00 a.m. (CST) | Lakeland, Fla. (Jenkins Fieldhouse)
Live Stats | Live Video | Golden Knights Roster | No. 3 Gannon 2025-26 Season Stats
 
Game 2: No. 19 Central Missouri Mules (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) vs No. 8 Cal State East Bay Pioneers (0-0, 0-0 CCAA)
Sunday, Nov. 8 | 12:15 p.m. (CST) | Lakeland, Fla. (Jenkins Fieldhouse)
Live Stats | Live Video | Pioneers Roster | No. 8 Cal State East Bay 2025-26 Season Stats
 
2026 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic Tournament Central
 
2026-27 Central Missouri Mules Basketball Game Notes (PDF) | 2026-27 Mules Basketball Roster | 2025-26 Central Missouri Basketball Season Stats | NABC Top 25 Poll
 
 
TIP OFF 
  • No. 19 Central Missouri Mules (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) begin the 2026-27 season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, against the defending national champion No. 3 Gannon Golden Knights (0-0, 0-0 PSAC) on Saturday, Nov. 7, with tip-off slated for 10:00 a.m. (CST) inside Jenkins Fieldhouse, on the campus of Florida Southern in Lakeland, Fla.
  • The Mules will take on the defending West Region champions, No. 8 Cal State East Bay Pioneers (0-0, 0-0 CCAA), on Sunday, Nov. 8, in the final game of the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic beginning at 12:15 p.m. (CST).
  • No. 19 Central Missouri is ranked in the preseason NABC poll for the first time since 2015-16, entering play with the third-most wins in NCAA Division II men's basketball history with 1,802 victories, having won two NCAA Men's DII National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four championships (1937 & 1938 NAIB) overall.
  • Last season, the Mules went 24-10 overall, and 14-5 in MIAA play, making their 24th appearance in the NCAA Division II Central Regional tournament, and the first time since the 2014-15 season. 
  • Under head coach Adam Bohac, Central Missouri has six top-25 victories, with four coming last season against No. 10 Colorado School of Mines (96-84, Nov. 7), No. 4 West Texas A&M (88-78, Dec. 16), No. 1 Washburn (74-72, Feb. 7), and No. 25 Arkansas-Fort Smith (80-52, Feb. 14), while becoming the second coach in MIAA history to have back-to-back MIAA Freshman of the Year in Lazerek Houston (2025-26) and Kyran Tilley (2024-25). 
 
 
ON THE AIR
 
  • Each game of the 2026 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic will be available free of charge through the SSC (Sunshine State Conference) Network, with coverage of Saturday's opening round contest against No. 3 Gannon beginning at 10:00 a.m. (CST), on the campus of Florida Southern University in Lakeland, Fla.
  • Sunday's action against No. 8 Cal State East Bay will begin at 12:15 p.m. (CST) on the SSC Network from Jenkins Fieldhouse.
 
 
CENTRAL MISSOURI PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 
  • This is the 121st season of Central Missouri Mules Basketball and ranks third all-time in NCAA Division II men's basketball with 1,802 wins.
  • The Mules have won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships (1937 & 1938 NAIB) overall.
  • Central Missouri made its 24th appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season and the first under head coach Adam Bohac, advancing to the Central Region Semifinals with an 88-77 victory over fellow MIAA foe Rogers State.
  • Guard Lazerek Houston became the 11th All-American in program history during the 2025-26 season after posting top-10 marks in field goals made (fifth, 252), points scored (eighth, 706), and assists (10th, 174) in the country while also being the only player in MIAA history to earn Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors in the same season.
 
 
MEET THE MULES
  • Adam Bohac enters his fourth season as head coach of the Mules after finishing the 2024-25 season with a 24-10 overall record, including 14-5 in the MIAA, earning the program's 24th trip to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Central Region Semifinals.
  • Central Missouri returns seven players from last year's squad, including Judah Sault, Jake Fritz, AJ Lux, Noah Martin, Kyree Polk, Carter Kaifes, and Trinell Parker.
  • The Mules added six transfers to the roster, including four Division I transfers in Jack Reddick (Florida Gulf Coast), Kye Dickson (UT-Rio Grande Valley), CJ Evans (Kansas City), and Clayton Jackson (Lindenwood), while adding Dodge Davis (Northeastern Junior College) and Max Rieger (Columbia College).
  • Central Missouri added one freshman in guard BJ Bradford (Lincoln, Neb.).
  • The Mules have adopted the acronym #Family as their team motto, which means "Forget About Me, I Love You".

 
NO. 19 CENTRAL MISSOURI BY THE NUMBERS
  • The Mules finished last season with a record of 24-10 overall, including 14-5 in MIAA play, making the program's 24th appearance at the NCAA Tournament, averaging 80.7 points per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field, including 39.1 percent from beyond the arc and 72 percent from the charity stripe.
  • Central Missouri averaged 36.4 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 6.9 steals, and 3.1 blocks per contest.
  • Four Mules averaged double-digit scoring last season, including Omaha, Neb. native Trinell Parker (11 points and 5.3 rebounds).
  • Last season, the Mules reset the program record for three-point baskets made with 362, while making a single-game record 22 against Maryville (Dec. 21) in Warrensburg, highlighted by Jevon Hill's nation-leading 121 for good measure.
 
 
SERIES HISTORY vs NO. 3 GANNON
  • Saturday marks the second all-time meeting between the Golden Knights and Central Missouri in program history, and the first time these teams have met since the 2008-09 Elite Eight when the Mules won 86-77, advancing to the Final Four.   
 
 
SERIES HISTORY vs NO. 8 CAL STATE EAST BAY
  • Sunday will be the first-ever meeting between the Pioneers and Central Missouri.
 
 
UP NEXT FOR THE MULES
  • Central Missouri continues the 121st season of play on Friday, Nov. 13, taking on the Southern Arkansas Muleriders (0-0, 0-0 GAC) at 2:30 p.m., during the opening game of the Tulsa Tip-Off Classic inside the Union Multipurpose Activity Center in Tulsa, Okla.  
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Kyran Tilley

#4 Kyran Tilley

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
Lazerek Houston

#7 Lazerek Houston

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Jevon Hill

#15 Jevon Hill

F
6' 9"
Junior
Jake Fritz

#5 Jake Fritz

G
6' 3"
Junior
Carter Kaifes

#25 Carter Kaifes

F
6' 6"
Sophomore
AJ Lux

#8 AJ Lux

G
6' 5"
Junior
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

F
6' 7"
Senior
Trinell Parker

#32 Trinell Parker

F
6' 8"
Sophomore
Kyree Polk

#23 Kyree Polk

F
6' 9"
Junior
Judah Sault

#0 Judah Sault

G/F
6' 5"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Kyran Tilley

#4 Kyran Tilley

6' 1"
Sophomore
G
Lazerek Houston

#7 Lazerek Houston

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Jevon Hill

#15 Jevon Hill

6' 9"
Junior
F
Jake Fritz

#5 Jake Fritz

6' 3"
Junior
G
Carter Kaifes

#25 Carter Kaifes

6' 6"
Sophomore
F
AJ Lux

#8 AJ Lux

6' 5"
Junior
G
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

6' 7"
Senior
F
Trinell Parker

#32 Trinell Parker

6' 8"
Sophomore
F
Kyree Polk

#23 Kyree Polk

6' 9"
Junior
F
Judah Sault

#0 Judah Sault

6' 5"
Senior
G/F